IS MARS PEOPLED, AMHERST ALUMNI, AND FIRE BUG IN PREBLE, N. Y.

 

Ernst Haekel.

Cortland Evening Standard, Wednesday, December 27, 1899.

IS MARS PEOPLED?

Such a Claim Advanced by a German Scientist.

   "Is Mars inhabited?" has been asked very often during recent years and has engaged the serious attention of many astronomers and especially of M. Camille Flammarion, a noted French scientist and author.

   Some new light is now thrown on this subject by Professor Ernst Haeckel, an eminent German philosopher, in a book entitled "World Problems." After pointing out that men have been studying the heavens for more than 4,500 years and have only been studying themselves for the last half century he says we may safely assume that the many fixed stars whose light requires thousands of years to reach us are suns and are surrounded by planets and worlds similar to those we know. We may also assume, he holds, that thousands of these planets have arrived at the same stage of development as our world, and it naturally follows that on them the same conditions of life prevail as on this earth, and there is no valid reason why human beings should not live there as they do here.

   Professor Haeckel takes care to explain that there are doubtless many planets, the temperature of which is such that life, as we understand the term, cannot be sustained on them. He thinks it very probable that there are types of animals and plants on some planets which are not to be found on the earth. According to him, it is very likely that the biogenetic process exists on Mars, Venus and possibly some other planets of our system, as well as on plants of other solar systems, but plants on these planets have reached a higher stage of development than has been reached by animals and plants of this earth.

   If we assume that Mars is inhabited—and Professor Haeckel seems pretty well satisfied that it is—we must assume, he holds, that the men and women whose home is on the planet are not such as we, but of a far higher type. They may resemble us exteriorly, but they are free from our physical defects and excel us in strength and gracefulness. It is in the intellectual sphere, however, that their superiority is most clearly shown. If there are human beings on these planets, says Professor Haeckel, it is extremely probable that they far surpass ordinary men and women in intelligence.

 

Edward Hitchcock, Jr.

AMHERST ALUMNI.

FIRST ANNUAL BANQUET HELD AT SYRACUSE.

Forty-one Men Assembled to Greet President Harris and Dr. Edward Hitchcock—Old College Well Was There in Miniature—Toasts Drunk from Water from the Genuine Well at Amherst—An Enthusiastic Gathering—Fine Responses from All the Speakers.

   The first annual banquet of the Amherst Alumni association of Central New York was held at The Vanderbilt at Syracuse last night and was a most delightful affair. This association was organized in Cortland on June 9th last, the initiatory steps for its formation being taken by the local alumni. This was its first of the banquets, and this was the first alumni association to extend a welcome to the new president, Dr. George Harris, though the St. Louis association was in session in St. Louis last night and greetings between the two associations were exchanged.

   Added interest in the gathering was aroused by the presence of President Harris and of Dr. Edward Hitchcock, beloved by every Amherst man old and young, who had come from Amherst especially to be the guests of the new association on this occasion.

   The arrangements for the banquet which were very complete were made by the officers of the association and the executive committee all of whom were reelected for the coming year as follows:

   President—Giles H. Stilwell, '81, Syracuse.

   Secretary—Rev. John T. Stone, '91, Cortland.

   Treasurer—Lewis C. Merrell, '99, Syracuse.

   Executive Committee—the three officers and Prof. W. K. Wickes, '80, Syracuse; Prof. T. J. McEvoy, '97, Cortland.

   At about 9 o'clock the men began to assemble in the parlors and an hour was spent in an informal meeting with the new president and in renewing old days and old friendships. Shortly before 10 o'clock the dining-room was thrown open and forty-three Amherst graduates and under-graduates were seated at the tables. The classes represented ranged all the way from '39 to 1903, from Right Reverend Frederic D. Huntington, bishop of central New York, who was sixty years out of college last June, to two freshmen who have completed one term of their course. It was an enthusiastic assembly. Dr. Hitchcock referred to the youthful association as the new baby, and President Harris remarked that new babies frequently make the most noise in the night as those nearby some time learn  to their sorrow, and perhaps the guests of the hotel in the vicinity of the dining-room took that view of the case last night as they heard the music of the college mandolin club, representatives of which were present, the college songs sung by the whole company and the bursts of laughter and cheers that were frequent.

   The tables were spread in royal purple and white, the college colors, and adorned with bouquets of the same shades. At the foot of one table stood a model six feet high of the old college well, from which every Amherst man in the seventy years of its existence has drawn water. There was a bucket and a chain in the well house and Prof. W. K. Wickes of Syracuse, who acted as toast master, had conceived the happy idea of sending to Amherst for a case of water from that same well from which the toasts were drunk. Prof. Wickes said he sent to Dr. Hitchcock for the water and imagine his horror when the package came, to find the address in Dr. Hitchcock's well known handwriting on one side of the case and on the other side the label "Holland Gin." Dr. Hitchcock declared, as soon as he could he heard, that somebody had been putting up a job on him.

   The menu was an elaborate one, was admirably served, and the midnight hour was approaching when President Stilwell rapped for order and introduced Prof. Wickes as the presiding genius of the evening. That gentleman was an ideal toastmaster, combining in just the proper degree wit and wisdom. He was in his happiest vein and with an excellent toast list in his hand this part of the evening could not but be replete with enjoyment. The speakers and responses were as follows:

   "Amherst Ideals of Theology," J. T. Stone, '91.

   "Amherst Ideals of Law," I. T. Deyo, '79.

   "Amherst Ideals of Scholarship," F. D. Blodgett, '93.

   "Amherst Memories, Old." Dr. Hitchcock of Every Class.

   "Amherst Ideals, New," President Harris.

   "Amherst Bells," Bishop Huntington.''

   While all the responses were of a high degree of excellence, the chief interest of course centered in the last three speakers. When Dr. Hitchcock so truly called "of every class," [he] surprised his boys last night as he rose by putting on his Turkish fez so familiar in the old gymnasium, by blowing the same old whistle in the same old way and by producing the identical rollbook that generations of college students have come to know as they knew their own names and slapping it vigorously upon the palm of his left hand as he has done thousands of times in the gymnasium when he was ready to bring order out of chaos with the well known exclamation: "Young  GENTLEMEN"—when all of this came upon the vision and ears of the assembly last night with one involuntary spring every man was on his feet with a yell that pretty nearly took off the roof, while the breakdown—"Who was Doc? First in war, First in peace, First in the hearts of his countrymen," was executed, regardless of table china, floors, or hotel guests, in the same manner as fifty classes have done it in days gone by and are still doing it to-day in the Amherst gymnasium—for of all the men in the Amherst faculty past and present, no one has quite so closely touched the heart of every student as Dr. Edward Hitchcock. He is always loyal to his boys and the boys have the most kindly and affectionate feeling for him. His response last night was characteristic and was greeted with the warmest applause.

   President Harris was listened to with keen interest. To nearly all but the under-graduates present he was a stranger when the company came together last night, but as he spoke of the affairs of the college, of the problems to be faced and met, of the changes that must necessarily come in an up-to-date institution of learning, of the methods of discipline employed and of some of the recent incidents of life in the college every hearer must have felt his confidence going out to the man and have been assured that the trustees had made no mistake in their selection of the new president and that all the good things that had been said of him were well founded. The applause which greeted his remarks, though perhaps different in kind from that accorded to Dr. Hitchcock, the true and tried friend, was none the less sincere and hearty and was intended to assure President Harris of the loyal and earnest support of every member of the Central New York Alumni association.

   The last speaker was Bishop Huntington. His theme was "Amherst Bells," suggested by the fact that at his summer home at Hadley he is within hearing of the bells of Amherst. This led him to a train of reminiscences of Amherst in the days (sixty years ago when he was in college, and during the intervening years. He spoke of the high ideals of character always impressed upon Amherst students. His words were serious and impressive, but there was a humorous turn to them every now and then which added to their force. His remarks were a fitting close to the toasts of the evening, and all tended to increase the interest and loyalty of the graduates for their alma mater.

   It was after 2 o'clock when the toasts were concluded. For nearly an hour longer the company remained in the dining-room grouped about the piano singing college songs, listening to the mandolin club and talking of the days gone by.

 

 

 

"Remember the Maine."

   "Remember the Maine," the only one of the many Spanish-American plays launched during last season which still continues on the road, comes to the Cortland Opera House next Monday. Some really clever plays dealing with the late war were launched, but as the authors relied wholly on patriotic sentiment to support the play after the war and the consequent decline in interest in its incidents, the public ceased to produce the coin of the realm in paying amounts. Mr. Carter was shrewd enough to foresee this result, and he therefore conceived some astonishingly clever scenic effects, which will carry the play, and produce good financial results for some seasons to come. The chief among these effects is the much talked of battle scene, a representation of the struggle between the American and Spanish navies in the harbor in Manila. In this scene Mr. Carter has accomplished seemingly impossible results. Giant warships, fully equipped discharge volleys and burn and sink each other in close conformity to the details as told by official reports of the event. The interpreting company is the same that was seen here last season, and includes Miss Evelyn Selbie, Mr. Charles Mestayer, J. Hooker Wright, Anna Thomas, Grant Foreman, May Stoddard, M. W. Douglass and other clever people. Prices 35, 50 and 75 cents. Sale opens Saturday at 9 A. M.

 

Died in Dryden.

   Mr. George Hatch died in Dryden yesterday as a result of locomotor ataxia. His age was 52 years. The funeral will be held on Thursday at 1 o'clock at his late home 2 miles east of Dryden.

 

PAVING ASSESSMENTS PAID.

The List of Those Who Have Paid Up Grows Steadily.

   The list of those who have paid their paving assessments up to date is constantly growing. At present the record is as follows:

   Tompkins-st.—Wesley Hooker, $296.56; W. H. Shankland, $403.25; Sarah I. Sturdevant $294.78; Dr. F. D. Reese, $214.38; Miss Hubbard and Mrs. Apgar, $294.78; the Blanchard estate, $ 266.73; Mrs. Jenny Ball, $237.26; Mrs. Jane M. Foster, $294.78; Mrs. B. F. Tillinghast $438.63.

   Port Watson-st.—Mrs. Sophia A. White, $225.97; E. A. Fish, $274.15; C. L. Kinney, $285.80; Mrs. Ida Y. Smith, $290.78; Laura E. Byram, $234.28; Stanley M. Bierce, $295.76; Freer estate, $246.74; F. J. Doubleday, $456.255.

   Lincoln-ave.—Robert Lang, $355.53; Delos Bauder, $192.30; J. C. Gray, $205.21; John Miller, $155.02; H. T. Dana, $282.96.

 

SILVER WEDDING.

Mr. and Mrs. E. H. Scott Celebrate Their Twenty-fifth Anniversary.

   At Union Springs, N. Y., Dec. 22, twenty-five years ago, occurred the wedding of Mr. Eugene H. Scott and Miss Joanna L. Lowry. To celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of this event Mr. and Mrs. Scott invited a number of their friends to spend last Friday evening at their home, two miles west of Cortland. About twenty-five were present and a very delightful time was the result. The guests were cordially welcomed by Mr. and Mrs. Scott and the evening was spent in a social way and with music until the supper was served. The supper which was an elaborate one was prepared by Mrs. Scott and was served by her two daughters, Misses Maria and Virginia.

   Numerous gifts of silver, suitable for the occasion, were brought by the guests and valuable reminders of the event were received from relatives at a distance who were unable to be present and from members of Mrs. Scott's bible class in the Presbyterian Sunday-school.

   The ceremony twenty-five years ago was performed by Rev. J. C. Long at the home of the bride in Union Springs. Mrs. Scott's maiden name was Joanna L. Lowry and she was a daughter of James and Maria Shaw Lowry of Union Springs. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Scott lived for nearly two years at Union Springs and then removed to their present home in Cortland, where they have since resided. They have two daughters, Misses Maria and Virginia Scott, who are living at home with them. Mrs. Maggie Scott Hornbeck, a daughter of Mr. Scott by his first wife, resides at Slaterville Springs.

   The guests who were present last Friday evening were: Rev. J. T. Stone, Mrs. T. D. P. Stone, Mrs. Harriet Parker, Miss Parker, Mr. and Mrs. B. L. Webb, Mrs. J. L. Robertson, Mr. and Mrs. N. P. Walworth, Miss Walworth, Mr. and Mrs. James White, Mr. and Mrs. P. C. Gilbert, Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Sanders, Mrs. J. H. Parker, Mrs. Backus, and Mr. and Mrs. Adelbert C. Scott of Slaterville Springs.

 

To Enlarge His Stable.

   Messrs. McNeil & Schellinger, two well-known and experienced carpenters and builders of the town of Truxton, informed a STANDARD man last week that they had been awarded the contract to erect an addition 30 by 46 feet in size to the livery barn of Earl C. Johnson, proprietor of the Truxton House. A hitching barn 30 by 46 feet in size will also be erected on the east side of the main building for the accommodation of the public. The interior of the old barn will be entirely remodeled, and when finished it will be one of the handsomest and most complete hotel and livery barns in the county. Work will be begun as soon as possible.

 

FIRE BUG IN PREBLE.

Well Laid Plan Would Have Succeeded Had It not Been Discovered.

   Last Saturday evening Mr. Alonzo Allen who lives near Preble went to the village to attend to some business and on his return home as was his custom he went to his mill to lock it and see that all was right. He went in at one door and through the mill and secured the door at the east and returned to the door he entered but stooped and looked around to see if there was anything he had overlooked. It being dark and having no light he saw a light shine from under a barrel which stood by the side of an oil barrel about half full of machine oil. On examination he found an old coat of his rolled up with some papers saturated with kerosene oil and with two sticks lying cross them and the empty barrel turned over the whole pile. In the center of the saturated coat and papers was a lighted wax candle that when the candle had burned down would light the oiled papers and thus evidently, kindle a fire that would destroy the mill and other property within reach. The matter was well planned and had Mr. Allen neglected to have looked around to see that all was right would have been successful.

   Mr. Allen is a man held in the highest estimation and the great question among his neighbors and friends is what enemy has he who would do such an act.

 

BREVITIES.

   —Dr. P. M. Neary has removed his office and residence to 17 Tompkins-st., directly across the street from his former residence.

   —On Thursday, Dec. 28, at 6 P. M. the Women's Auxiliary of the Y. M. C. A. will serve a gymnasium banquet to the members of the association.

   —The Holiday dance given under the supervision of the assembly will be held in Red Men's hall Friday evening, Dec. 29. Darby's orchestra of ten pieces will furnish the music.

   —Mr. Samuel Parsons is in town looking after the interests of his directory of Cortland and Cortland county for 1900. It is Mr. Parsons' intention that the directory shall be better than ever before.

   —The marriage of Mr. John Scanlon and Miss Mary E. Roach was solemnized this morning at St. Mary's church, Rev. J. J. McLoghlin officiating. The newly married couple started on the 9:20 train for a short trip to Lyons.

   —If you desire to take advantage of The STANDARD'S clubbing list on periodicals do it this week, as the subscriptions will be forwarded on Jan. 1, and the clubbing rates withdrawn except on the New York Tribune and New York World. Subscriptions for these can be received at any time.

   —The employees of the Cortland & Homer Traction Co. all contributed to make up a purse of $20 which was sent as a Christmas gift to Mr. Olney P. Chrysler, the motorman who was on the ill-fated car that was in the collision with the milk train several weeks ago. Mr. Chrysler has never fully recovered from the injuries received upon that occasion.

   —New display advertisements to-day are—Warren Tanner & Co., Clearing sale of jackets, page 6; Choral Society, Redpath Grand Concert Co., page 5; M. A. Case, Our New Year's greeting, page 6; W. J . Perkins, Cough balsam, page 4; L. D. Garrison, Candies and fruit, page 6; Dr. G. H. Smith, Special price on dental work, page 4; F. D. Smith, Skates, page 6.